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Monday, December 31, 2012

Kimberly's Review of On The Jellicoe Road

On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Ever read a book that if you had to judge it by the first 100 pages, you’d rate it at about one or two stars? Then you finish the book and it overtakes your mind, and steals your heart and breath? That’s what happened to me with “On the Jellicoe Road”. I received it as a Secret Santa gift, they left a note telling me that it was one of their favorite books. She also warned me how difficult and confusing the beginning is, but once you get past that the writing is beautiful. She was right!

"What do you want from me?" he asks. What I want from every person in my life, I want to tell him. More.

Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all.

In this absorbing story by Melina Marchetta, nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor tries to work out the connection between her mother dumping her, Hannah finding her then and her sudden departure now, a mysterious stranger who once whispered something in her ear, a boy in her dreams, five kids who lived on Jellicoe Road eighteen years ago, and the maddening and magnetic Jonah Griggs, who knows her better than she thinks he does. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future.

This description doesn’t even cover the intricate ways that both stories, that of Taylor’s and that of the five kids who lived on Jellicoe eighteen years before her, are woven together. The writing truly is beautiful, Melina has a way of describing feelings, thoughts, memories… that go straight to your heart. There is so much truth behind her descriptions.

The story is heartbreaking, but is also peppered with humor and breathtaking descriptions. Parts of the book felt like poetry. The characters are wonderful. I loved each and every one of them. At the beginning, I wasn’t sure I was going to like any of them, but as the story went on I fell in love with each of their unique personalities.

I know this review is rather… glowing, but I just finished the book late last night and I’m still on one of those “good book highs”. Still. Give this book a try.

7 comments
:

I completely agree! I'm really glad that I pushed through those first few pages, because I was really close to putting it away. But I made myself read more and it was wonderful! I'm not ashamed to say that this book made me cry. :)

Yes, yes, yes! I was the exact same way! The first 100 pages left me so unbelievably confused and wanting to flounce but it is so worth it to stick around. Just a wonderful story. I'm glad you ended up enjoying it too. :)

I felt the same about this book-- thought I wasn't loving it at first, but then ended up falling in love with the character and Marchetta's writing. The ending made me cry and it is one of those books which stays with you and gives a "book high". Glad you loved it!

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Rating System

0 Stars: Did not finish.1 Star: I didn't like this book -- felt more like homework than reading for pleasure.2 Stars: This book needed something different to make me like it.3 Stars: This book was good. It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad. I would recommend based on certain tastes.4 Stars: This book was delightful. I'm glad I read it.5 Stars: I really enjoyed this book. I will probably read it again.5+ Stars: A new favorite.

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